Yesterday was a lot of fun. That’s correct, I often have fun on Sundays. Yesterday stood out for a lot of fun moments.

Here are my fun, and not some not so fun, musings …

-We had a great spirit in all of the worship service. It was an awesome mix of joy, power, sensitivity and fun.

-The children gave us some drawings they had done for us for Pastor Appreciation. They also read 2 poster board-

sized cards they had made us complete with candy bars and gum packages in the place of some words. It was so

fun and cute. We also had an all church meal after the worship service where we received a card with a love

offering and some “cold hard cash”. One of our adult Sunday School classes gave us some cash frozen in a baggie.

I love their creativity and fun spirit. This is such an encouraging group of people. Not just during a month of Pastor

Appreciation, but throughout the year. We receive cards, calls, texts, emails and other means of encouragement

and support.

-We had one of our own share about her recent mission trip to Honduras. Our people prayed for her and some

gave toward the trip so it was great to hear the first hand report of how the trip went.

-Yesterday was also a time where we received a special missions offering that our denomination calls Alabaster

offering. It goes toward building ministry facilities or purchasing properties where the ministry cannot do it on

their own. It was great to see children, youth and adults participating in this offering that goes to others.

-We had another new family in church yesterday.

-We had some sound issues, but nothing dramatic. We did have a lot of internet issues.

-It was kind of a distracting time in worship with a special offering, a person sharing, the kids doing their

appreciation for us and some people coming and going getting ready for the dinner that followed.

-My message was titled “Change your focus, change your future”. I really didn’t feel that I communicated it very

well. I got too caught up in the distractions. I guess I needed to change my focus. Once again, the good news is that the

Holy Spirit ministered where I didn’t. Also, I stated several times that I wanted them to remember the phrase “change your

focus, change your future”. Hopefully that will keep ringing in their heart and mind this week. When we focus on the Christ

our future is changed.

-We had a large number that stayed and shared in the meal together.

-On Saturday evening we had another Community Concert of Prayer. The spirit was so awesome in the place. It

was a powerful time of prayer.

-Our attendance was good and that number is becoming the norm. As the kids surrounded my wife and I while

they presented their appreciation stuff to us I thought of how there would have been a kid on each side of us

if this had been done when we arrived. Now the kids filled the area in front of the platform.

-Our children are working on their Christmas program. I love having them run up to me after church to tell me

what they are going to do in the Christmas program. I love that they are excited to share. I love that we have so

many people giving of their time in ministry to our children.

-I am having trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that Christmas is less than 2 months away. My wife

excitedly informed me that the Hallmark channel was about to begin the their countdown to Christmas with a

bunch of Christmas movies every day until Christmas. I did not share her enthusiasm for this news.

-Today is my youngest granddaughter’s first birthday. Happy Birthday Piper!

Here’s hoping you have a week full of things to celebrate.

Dennis